08-08-2023, 08:49 PM
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#33
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Rookie
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Re: Greatest Teams of the 2000s
Alright, I played my "National Championship" game. 2005 Texas vs. 2001 Miami at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. I just imagined Keith Jackson and Bob Griese on the call.
I played as Miami. Super fun team and I think they're the greatest college team of this era.
Texas won the opening toss and deferred to the second half. I took the ball and proceeded to drive straight down the field, culminating with a one yard TD run by Najeh Davenport. 7-0 Miami.
My gameplan on defense was inspired by Bill Belichick. Take away what Texas does best: Vince Young running the ball. That meant putting a lot of speed on the field (playing almost exclusively Nickel and Dime, and usually a 3-3-5 Nickel). Keep Young in the pocket, make him hand the ball off on option plays, make him throw the ball. If he beats us with his arm we'll live with that, if he beats us with his legs we'll feel like morons.
Texas ripped off a big Jamaal Charles run to get into the redzone but their drive stalled out and they settled for a field goal. 7-3 Miami.
The next drive was a quick strike as Andre Johnson got behind the corner on a deep route for a 50 yard gain and then caught a touchdown two plays later. 14-3 Miami at the end of the first quarter.
Texas answered with a touchdown on their next drive as Young found Romence Taylor. 14-10 Miami.
I answered with another touchdown drive, ending with another Najeh Davenport touchdown run. 21-10 Miami. I managed to stop Texas on their last drive of the half and went into the locker room with a 21-10 lead.
And then the game swung on the second half kickoff, as Texas fumbled and I recovered inside the 20. I immediately hit Andre Johnson to get down inside the five and Clinton Portis scored the next play. 28-10 Miami, Texas is in big trouble now.
No scoring for the rest of the quarter as both defenses asserted themselves. I put the game to rest on the first play of the fourth quarter with a nine yard touchdown pass to Jeremy Shockey. 35-10 Hurricanes, game over.
Texas got a late TD as Vince Young found Nate Jones in the endzone to cut it to 35-17 and that was our final. 2001 Miami are the National Champions. The Hurricanes are crowned as the greatest college football team of the 21st century.
Andre Johnson was Player of the Game as he caught nine passes for 166 yards and a touchdown. He set up two other touchdowns with big plays.
Defensive Player of the Game was Jonathan Vilma, who had 11 tackles and a Tackle for Loss. Matt Walters, Andrew Williams, and Chris Campbell all had sacks.
Kevin Beard was Special Teams Player of the Game as he both forced and recovered the fumble on the kickoff that was Play of the Game.
Not the most thrilling championship game but without the kickoff fumble it might have gone differently. Texas not getting any points on their opportunity to double up before and after the half and instead giving up a touchdown broke their back.
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